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MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
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HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
–
Expert comment on national breastfeeding strategy –
A national strategy to boost breastfeeding rates is being launched by the Health
Minister Nicola Roxon today, at the meeting of State health ministers in Adelaide.
Priorities are set to include increasing community acceptance of breastfeeding,
establishing support networks for pregnant women and improving breastfeeding
training for health professionals.
A national breast milk bank is also being considered, for premature and sick babies
whose mothers are unable to feed them or who need supplementary feeds.
RMIT University breastfeeding expert, Dr Jennifer James, said government
leadership was vital to making breastfeeding socially and culturally acceptable in
Australia.
“It’s fantastic to see governments recognising how crucial breastfeeding is to the
health and wellbeing not only of babies but their mothers,” Dr James said.
“But considering over a quarter of Australians think that breastfeeding in public is
unacceptable, we know there is a long way to go.
“Women should be supported to breastfeed regardless of whether they stay at
home or are in the workplace.
“Strategies to help workplaces adapt to the needs of breastfeeding mothers are
absolutely essential if we are serious about boosting breastfeeding rates.
“What we want is for women to feel confident in breastfeeding their babies –
whenever and wherever they happen to be.”
Dr James is the Program Leader and Course Coordinator in the Department of
Nursing and Midwifery at RMIT.
She participated in the consultation process for the national breastfeeding strategy
and is Vice-President of the Australian Lactation Consultants' Association, which
commissioned a survey this year that revealed more than one-in-four Australians
considered breastfeeding in public unacceptable.
Dr James has also acted as the consumer representative on the Advisory Panel on
the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula (APMAIF).
She is available for interview on the national breastfeeding strategy.
For interviews: RMIT University’s Dr Jennifer James, (03) 9925 6650 or 0411
409 375.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
13 November, 2009
NEWS 
